After terminating his partnership with The Crickets, Buddy Holly assembled a new band consisting of Waylon Jennings,Tommy Allsup, and Carl Bunch to play on the Winter Dance Party tour along with Dion and the Belmonts, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.The musicians set out on a twenty–four day tour of the mid-western states by bus.

The first stop on the tour was a performance in Milwaukee, Wis. at Devines Million Dollar Ballroom (now the Eagles Ballroom).